Make and break device



June 1 1926.

J. H. CANNON MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 65 65 Jim Tale. j/mzs. C'fl/M OA QM a 40.

J. CANNON MAKE AND BREAK DEVICE Filed June 9,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 1, 19 26.

JAMES H. CANNON, or LOS ANGELES, cnmronnm.

' ,MAK AND BREAK? Davies. 1

Application filed June 9,

My present invention is a make-and-break device for electrical circuits, and it is" a special object of this invention to provide. an automatic interrupter or control device suitable for use in connection with flashing signs or like loads requiring an intermittent flow of current, or requiring a time controlled variation inv the electrical energy supplied thereto. I

@electro-magnet through It is an ob ect ofthis invention to provide a circuit control device adapted to be interposed between a suitable source of current, such as ordinary direct or alternating cur rent, and any translating device whosecurregular intervals or for predetermined periods of time; and it is an object or my invention to provide means ,Whereby the periods .ofenergization may be conveniently 1 varied at will. 1 a I a )It is an ob'ect of my invention to provide an automatlc circuit control device comprising means forintermittently energizing and deenergizing each'of two branch circuits, one of the mentionedbranch circuits preferably comprising an electro-magnet, in the form ofa'solenoid placed in series with a quick-break switch operated thereby, and the other branch circuit, intended to include the load, being provided with a special switch adapted to be opened subsequently to the energizing of said solenoid and adapted to be closed, under certain conditions hereinafter mentioned, by gravity, the intervals between the mentioned openings and closings. being subjectfto control by adjustable devices which may include a dash pot and a hand valve; and a preferred embodiment of my invention may comprise means causing the i mentioned load branch circuit to be 7 opened before the solenoid branch circuit is opened, and means whereby the load branch circuit is automaticallyclosed after a predetermined interval a of time, before said solenoid'branch circuit is closed, the organization referred to being such ..as to permit, an indefinite repetition of the closing and openin'g operationst a It ,is' an object of this invention to provide acircuit control device comprising an which extends a rod which may zolrlu piisiev 011. be. provided with magnetic material, this rod' being connected at .one'end with one -of the relatively movab1eparts of .azdash pot, or its equivalent.

' and provided 'also "with circuit control 1324. semino. 718,862.

means, and with means, such as a weight,

tending to causethe mentioned movable ele-.

ment to advance in a fmanne'r permitting a closureof circuits; and a preferred embodiment of my invention may comprise means 7.

for use in the load circuit, these special switches being preferably associated with and operable by movement'- of the mentioned rodoperably connected with a movable elea a M I "ment, such as the piston,'of a dash pot. rent is to be interrupted at. predetermined Fig. l is; an elevational view. of an organ ing shown in section or broken away.

' F g. -2- is an elevational view taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 22 [of Fig. 1!

Fig.

ferent relative Y ositions, both of the branch circuits beings own as open.

arrow 4 of Fig. 3,partsbeing.broken away. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 2.

ig. 6 is awiring' diagram hereinafter referred to. i I

Referring to the details of the specificjembodiment of my invention chosen for purposes of illustration, 11 may be a board or .izationembodying my invention, parts besis an elevational view correspondmg to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in dif- Fig fi is a plan view which maybe re; garded as. taken in the direction of, the" plate of insulating material upon which the i respective parts of my device may be mounted n a substantially. vertical posltion; and this dev ce may comprise, among its essene tial parts, a solenoid 12, mountedabove a reservoir13 adapted to containaliquid such as oil, and a vertically extending rod 14, ex.- tending through said solenoidand shown as carrying at its lower end a piston 15, movable within a relatively fi'xed cylinder. 16,

the mentioned piston andcylinder functioning as the. co operating parts of a dash pot containing oil, orthe like, confined within the receptacle 13.

' Line, wires 11 and 18 may be respectively connected with terminals 19 and 20, from which a solenoid'branch 21 and a load branch 22 may extend in parallel relationship, a pair of load terminals being shown at 23 and 24. A strip 25, shown as secured by bolts 26, 26, may provide a short connection between the terminals 20 and 24, and a conductive strap 27 may be employed to carry the current from the line terminal 19 across the back of the insulating plate 11 to a post 28, in conductive connection with one of a pair of contact elements 29, 29 in the load branch circuit 22; and the solenoid branch circuit 21 may comprise a wire 30, one end of which may be permanently secured to a fixed contact 31 of a quick-opening switch placed in series with the solenoid 12, a post 32 being shown as provided on the conductive body 33 of said switch. to facilitate the connecting therewith of a wire 34, which may be continuous with the mentioned wire 21, optionally employed in the winding of said solenoid.

One end of the wire 30 may be secured to a post 35, in such manner as to complete the solenoid branch circuit through a resistance 36, shown as a fine wire guarded by a tube 37 of glass or similar material; or, when this resistance is not required, the wire 30 may optionally be connected to a post 38, the posts and 38 being suitable for employment in supporting the resistance 36 and its protecting tube 37, as by means of conductive brackets 39, 39, through which the solenoid branch circuit is completed when the mentioned resistance is interposed.

On the substantially vertical rod 14, which is elevated, whenever the solenoid 12 is energized, in a known manner, by the attraction of magnetic material comprised therein or associated therewith, I may provide means such as stops or tappets 40, 41, preferably formed of or faced with insulating material, to actuate the mentioned quick-opening switch, in series with said solenoid; and this switch may comprise in addition to the mentioned conductive casting 33, shown as secured by the post 32 and an additional bolt or screw 42, a ley'er 43, shown as pivoted at 44 on a conductive projection 45, head 46 upon an operating arm of said lever being interposed be tween the mentioned stops or tappets 40, 41, in such a manner as to swing the conductive arm 47 of said lever through a substantially vertical position, to make and break the circuit through said solenoid. In order to give a snap action or quick-opening movement to a movable contact element 48, mounted upon the distal end of the conductive arm 47, I may employ a movable contact element reduced in diameter at its upper end 49, and provided with shoulders 50 adapted to interfit within arcuate notches 51 provided in parallel walls 52 at the outer end. ofithe arm 47, a resilient element such as the spring 53 being secured. at an intermediate point 54 of said arm and also to an intermediate point 55, near the base of a notch extending downwardly from the top of the movable cont-act element 48. The construction here referred to is such that, when the stop or tappet 41 upon the rod 14 engages the head 46 upon the operating arm of the lever 43, the conductive arm 47 thereof is swung into substantially the position shown'in Fig. 3, the contact 48 being thereby snapped, under the action of the spring 53, away from the fixed contact 31 and against a stop 56, shown as secured in the insulating block 57 within which the fixed contact 31 is also secured. An. opposite or downward movement of the rod 14,. or its equivalent, must obviously be effective to cause engagement of the stopor tappet 40 with the head 46 upon the operating arm of the lever 43, thereby causing an opposite movement of the conductive arm 47 thereof and the sudden remaking of the circuit by an engagement of the movable contact 48 with the fixed contact 31.. Obviously, a load might be includedinthis solenoid circuit.

For the making and breaking of the load branch circuit 22, I may employ means comprising a bridging element 58, which may be in. the form of a carbon disc conrically ground or otherwise formed in the lower portion: 59 thereof in such a manner as reliably to form an effective contact with correspondingly tapered or interfitting surfaces upon the mentioned fixed contacts 29, 29, which may be arcuate inplan, although spaced apart at 60 in such manner as to permit a- How of current only when the bridging disc 58, shown. as circular inform v and siu'rounding the rod 14,, is in contact therewith. The bridging element 58 may advantageously be secured to a sleeve 61, longiti'idinall'y movable upon the rod 14, and shown as provided at its upper end with a tapered collar 62, adapted to-cooperate with means such as the rollers 63, rotatably mounted upon shafts 64, in the releasable retention of said bridging element in an elevated position. The shafts 64 may be pivoted at 65 upon a bracket 66, adapted to support the same at a fixed level; and the outer ends of these shafts may be resiliently pressed or drawn together, as by means of a spring 67 interposed between the ends thereof, a plate 68, provided with comparatively large apertures 69 being optionally employed to maintain said shafts in substantially parallel relationship, although permitting them to separate sufficiently to allow the collar 62 topass therebetween.

The rod 14, or its equivalent, may be provided with means constantly. tending to force the piston 15 into the cylinder 16, and my preferred means for this purpose may comprise a weight 7 0 upon the upper end of said solenoid 12 isenergized, but of sufficient mass to cause said rod to descend when said solenoid is deenergized; and the rate of movement of the rod 14 may be predetermined by means such as a hand controlled needle valve 71, the stem 72 of this valve bein shown as provided with a milled head 73, above a plate 74, which may serve both as a support'for the solenoid 12 and as a cover for the receptacle 13, containing oil or an equivalent fluid. A block 75 may be supported within the receptacle 13 in any suitable way, as bythreaded engagement with the lower end of the cylinder 16, and it may be provided with substantially vertical channels'76 and 77 connected by a horizontal channel 7 8 in such manner that the advancing of the needle valve 71 relatively to a seat 7 9 may be efiective to control the rate of admission or exit of oil past said valve, in response to the lifting effect of the solenoid 12 orthe depressing effect of the weight 70. In order to permit adjustmentof the rate of descent of the rod 14 without correspondingly retarding the elevation thereof, I may employ means such as a ball valve 80 having a seat 81 at the top of an alternative inlet duct 82. My time-control may be used with either or both switches. a

The stop or tappet 40, or its equivalent, may be employed not only to contact, as in dicated above, with the head 46 upon the operating arm of the quick-opening switch in series with the solenoid 12, but optionally also to contact with the lower surface of the bridging element 58in the load branch cir-" cuit, to elevate saidbridging element; and in order that the elevation of this element shall be completed in such manner as to permit an engagement of the collar 62 and its retention by the rollers 63, or their equivalent, I may mount the lower stop or tappet 41 upon the rod 14 in such manner as to permit said rod to slide therethrough until.

a shoulder 83'on said rod shall engage a washer 84, beneath the stop 41, thereby elevating the same sufiiciently to open the solenoid branch circuit'only after the collar 62 rapidly as the adjustment of the valve 71 may permit,the bridging element 58 may be first released by the pressure of an in-' sulating tappet or enlargement 85, or its equivalent, shown as mounted immediately below said weight, this tappet or enlargement being effective, in its descent, to force the collar 62 through between the rollers 63 ment 58, falling freely under the action of gravity, into effective contact with the correspondingly ground surfaces of the spaced contacts '29, 29; Subsequently to the movement just described, the further descent of the tappet 40 may be effective, by engagement of the head 46 upon the operating arm of the quick-opening switch in circuit, with the solenoid, to close the circuit through said solenoid and thereby initiate a repetition ofthe upward movement of the rod 14 and an indefinite repetition ofthe successiveoperations referred to.

Although I have herein described one complete embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various features thereof.

might be independently employed, and also by those skilled in the art, without the and permit the descent of the bridging eleg 65 slightest departure from the spiritandscope of my invention, as the same is indicated above and in the following claim.

I clalm as my 1nvent1on:

' In a quick-opening switch operable by means'of a reciprocating rod'comprised in 1 an automatic make-and-break 7 device, the combination of: a .main casting of conductive material, a projection thereon carrying and in conductive contact with a lever; means for securing a conductivelead tosaid main casting; a fixed contact spaced from said main casting; a mounted on aconductive arm of said lever and movable relative thereto and in'conductive contact therewith; and means resiliently connecting an intermediate point of said able contact element in such manner as to the distal end of said conductive arm being provided with parallel notched walls and a said movable contact element being provided has passed above the rollers 63. After the solenoid circuit is opened by the actuation,

with a reduced portion extending between said walls and terminated by shoulders extending into said notches.

contact 1 element n my hand at Los Angeles, California, this arm with an intermediate point of said mov- In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set V 

